Where to get Content creation work?

Now that you have learnt about content writing, seen how the market works and how you can outsource work, you are ready to try out a few things by yourself. You are all prepared to unleash your content creation business in this world.

However, you stop at that point to think – “where the heck am I going to find the content writing orders?”. The answer, surprisingly, is all around you.

Where to get content creation work?

Here are a few sources that you can use.

1. Find content writing jobs on the web

Hey, we are writing for the web, on the web, so why not get the content written from the web? The caveat – you should know where to look. Let’s look at a few prized options here.

Websites for content writers

This is as easy as it gets – these are websites that connect content creators with content consumers. A few websites also consume content for themselves along with selling content to others. We call them “Content Mills” and “Content Brokers”. A website can be either or both of them.

What matters to writers (and those who want to earn money from writing) is that they pay money for getting articles written. Let’s look at a few of those.

One of the popular ways to outsource your content, but you can also get orders from here. Do not get stuck at the lower levels for authors, move to Premium and Elite levels as soon as possible. Read my iWriter review to know more. Your payment starts at $0.54/100 words at the lowest level.

Zerys pays $1.4/100 words. Note that this kind of websites pay monthly, and not by the article.

Demand Media Studios (gone!)

You have to apply first and get accepted. Needs better quality articles, but pays much more than what TextBroker or iWriter can do. My advice is to get started here once you gain enough confidence in writing, and getting work done.

Evergreen forum that is mostly frequented by newbies, and spammers. You will get a good following once you stand-out by doing some outstanding work.

You can easily get started for free and check out what people are looking for in their content. You can also advertise yourself in Classifieds section, or Warriors for Hire section in Warrior Special Offers. WF charges $20 for the premium membership (the right to advertise), and $17 for each posting (the actual ad). You can charge whatever you want, but know that only cheap services work here.

Micro job sites

Create your ad for free. Get your friends to buy the first few gigs, and then see some orders rolling in. You can also monitor other people posting a wanted ad.

Always use a picture or video on Fiverr. Provide enough references and testimonials, and indicate your quality of work. Provide express gigs that allow you to deliver sooner for more money, and combine more than one offer to form a larger gig.

It is really important to delivery your gigs on time, and maintain a high reputation. Refund a problem client rather than haggle with him.

I prefer Fiverr, but there are many other micro job sites that you can try out..

AllIndieWriters provides great references for free lance writers. Follow the above link to find writers markets divided by category – includes any site that is paying good money for high quality content. You can also find freelance writing jobs on the same site.

2. Offline methods to find content writing jobs

Yes, sometimes getting online work offline is much easier.

SEO companies

Start with SEO companies in your area/city.

SEO companies survive by doing SEO, no surprises there. But a lot of SEO is content.

Content generation teams are expensive, do not do any technical work, and are generally not part of the core SEO team. So, SEO companies often find themselves outsourcing work. You can find a range of jobs here depending on the sophistication of the customer of the SEO company.

The only problem – you are dealing with people who pay less and less for getting better/more work done. They are highly internet savvy, and are willing to jump to another content writer who demands a few cents lesser.

The biggest advantage is once you start negotiating with them successfully, you can negotiate with almost anyone out there. And, they do outsource big time!

Look for businesses around you

Almost any business today has a website, or is in the process of creating one. Although every business wants to keep their website updated, and fresh, they often are short of resources to go about it.

Cut a deal with them. Take your views of how website updates are required, and how they can benefit with a steady stream of content – may it be tailored customer testimonials, company news, blog content, or just spreading their work as posts in forums or other blogs. Propose what you think is a fair stream of content for a period ranging from 6 months to 1 year. Prepare to divide your work into smaller pieces when required.

An offline business that is looking for work is a golden opportunity. A vast majority of the smaller business have no idea on how to get the content, where and what. Your content solution may fit in just fine for them. But, do set clear expectations upfront on the quality. Show them sample posts, and be on your guard throughout the contract.

Look even closer

You will always have friends and close ones who have started a website, but find it hard to maintain. Don’t they need content? Whom can they trust more than a friend like you?

Remember, it is tougher to sell your services to a stranger than a friend.